PABLO, MONTANA 59855 ISSN: 0528-8592
OF THE FLATHEAD INDIAN RESERVATION, WESTERN MONTANA
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER 1,1981
MOON OF THE HALF SUMMER - HALF AUTUMN
Council votes for clean air
Indian water rights to be explained
The State of Montana wants all of the water inside its borders accounted for by January of 1982, including the water within its seven Indian reservations' boundaries. Realizing, however, that the matter of Indian reserved lands and water is a complex one, they've allowed several years' time (until July 1985) for negotiating tribal water rights, an idea some tribes agree with - ours included, but just barely - to avoid lengthy and costly court battles.
In the meantime, are tribal members supposed to file their water rights with the State, believing that Montana exercises jurisdiction over Reservation water? Or are they supposed to accept the concept that the CSK Tribes are the jurisdictional body in the matter? Where does the federal government fit in? Ask six tribal officials and you'll no doubt get six different answers.
In an attempt to shed light on the murky issue, the Tribes are sponsoring a two-day water rights conference this month. "In an attempt to end some of this confusion," Tribal Chairman Tom
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The Tribal Council voted 8 to 2 September 18 to redesignate the Flathead Reservation as a class one air quality area. Opposed to the motion were John McClure (Arlee) and E.W. Morigeau (Poison).
When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves the tribal redesignation petition (no significant opposition is expected), the Reservation will become the second area to change its current class two status to the pristine class one designation. So far, only national parks, wilderness areas, and the Northern Cheyenne Reservation (in southwestern Montana) are class one.
The redesignation resolution passed September 18 was the result of almost three years' work by the EPA-funded Tribal Air Quality Office, assisted by the University of Montana. Their work included researching the Reservation's history, economics, and health problems; measuring the quality of the air here under varying conditions; predicting any impacts possible from redesignation; and informing the public and private sectors about their work. A much-praised 136-page report was produced as a result.
A draft application is now awaiting EPA action.
EPA officials Ken Alkema and Tom Harris were among the air quality representatives at Friday's meeting. An example of the questions the Council asked the two included:
Will 'tepee burners' be affected? No, they wouldn't, and depending on the size of the operation, "reasonable growth" is allowed by the federal class
one standards.
How will the Tribes' Post and Pole Yard be affected, both now and in the
future? The pristine air rules won't affect the current set-up at all. In fact, three times more pollution could conceivably be produced under the regulations.
In the EPA officials' opinion, does the Tribes need class one air? The Reservation, although technically labelled class two (with most of the rest of America), has very clean (pristine) air. In reality then, the air is already class one. Making it official on paper will help it stay that way. It's completely up to the Tribes to decide whether or not they want to allow more air pollution than already exists. Will Forestry's controlled burning
program be affected? No. The
regulations have no jurisdiction over
existing, temporary sources.
Could 'going class one' affect all of
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Inside this issue
Water conference agenda......Page 3
Camel's next fight............Page 4
Head Start begins............Page 6
Celebrating Indian Day.......Page 7
"Letters to the Editor"........Page 8
Charlo's People............Page 12
October calendar...........Page 13
1981's Pilgrimage.........Centerfold
Council Minutes............Page 20
Don't forget...
• Quarterly Council Meeting: Friday, October 2, beginning at 9 a.m. in the gym at the old agency in Dixon.
• Secretarial Election: Registered tribal voters will go to the polls Saturday, October 3, to decide on an amendment to the Tribal Constitution; and
to decide whether or not to retrocede from concurrent jurisdiction with the State of Montana. District meetings were held during the week prior to the election to explain the two issues. Polling places are:
Arlee-Salish Indian Seniors Center Dixon-Two Eagle River School Hot Springs-Bowling Alley Pablo-Tribal Complex St. Ignatius-Community Center Elmo-Koostatah Hall Ronan-Senior Citizens Center Poison-Day Care/Head Start Bldg.